Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department

Computer UpDating and IP Information Page

Instructions for updating your operating system with the current security patches.

Windows 98 and W2K

Click on start

Near the top of the popup list is a choice called windows update – Click on it

If you have not installed your security patches in awhile, you will be asked to install a control program to automatically download security patches to your machine.  Please install this program.

After the program has installed, your web browser will pop up and take you  to a Microsoft update site.

Tell the site to scan for updates.

After the site has checked your computer, the window on the left side of your web browser will indicate the number of critical updates, windows updates and drivers that are available. 

Click on the critical updates and service packs links.  This will list out the patches available for your machine.

If you have a W2K machine and a service pack update is listed be sure to tell the install program to backup files when the install program asks if it should do so.

Tell the computer to install all the critical updates. 

Depending on how out of date your machine is, you may need to restart your computer.  Just follow the instructions on the screen.

You may need to repeat these instructions several times to be sure that all the updates have been installed.

After completing these steps, your computer will monitor the Microsoft site for new updates and let you know when they become available. – You will see a popup balloon in the lower right corner of you screen when this occurs.  Click on it and follow the instructions

Windows XP

Right Click on My computer and go to properties

Click on the automatic update tab

Be sure that the check box by keep my computer up to date is checked

Be sure that download updates automatically and let me know when they are available for installation is checked. or if you wish, let windows install automatically at a certain day and time.

If a service pack update is listed be sure to tell the install program to backup files when the install program asks if it should do so.

Directions for finding your IP address, Adapter address and Host Name

(the Adapter/Mac Address is the 12 digit Alpha Numeric number separated with dashes) 

Windows 95/98

• Start
• Run
• Type: winipcfg 
• Make sure the resulting pull down box in IP Configuration displays the name of your Ethernet card – NOT “PPP Adapter”. If it says “PPP Adapter”, use the pull down box to change the setting so that it shows the name of your Ethernet card.
• Then click on the “more info” button. This box will show you all of your machine’s information.
• Host Name/Node Name is the top item in the IP Configuration Box.   

Windows NT

• Programs ->
• Command Prompt type:  ipconfig /all – this will give you your IP Address and your Adapter Address (Physical Address)
• Host Name/Node Name is listed in Host Name at the top of the list.

  Windows 2000/XP

• Click on Start
• Programs > Accessories > click on command prompt
• At the Command Prompt type:  ipconfig /all  – this will give you your IP Address and your Adapter Address (Physical Address)
• Host Name/Node Name is listed in Host Name at the top of the list.

You do not need to look for a Node/Host Name for Apples, as they do not need them for their Ethernet Connections.

Apples with older Operating Systems 

• Control Panel
• Choose Mac TCP
• IP will be at the bottom of this box

·        For the Adapter Address hold down the OPTIONS button and click on the Ethernet Icon in the MAC TCP Window. 

 Apples with new Operating Systems 

·        Control Panel

·        TCP/IP

·        Edit Menu